Lankan plane’s tyres burst at IGI airport

Two tyres of a SriLankan Airlines plane, carrying 170 passengers, burst after an emergency landing at the IGI airport on Sunday.

Though the flight landed safely, the tyres burst when the plane was moving towards the parking area.

Minutes before landing, the pilot informed the air traffic control (ATC) tower that he suspected tyres burst.

After a ‘low flying pass’ — where a team inspects the tyres/aircraft as it flies at low height only to be up in the air again — the authorities informed the pilot that the tyres were alright but had low air pressure.

“The flight then landed safely under emergency conditions around 7pm. However, when it was on the taxiway towards the parking bay, the two rear tyres burst,” sources said.

While an emergency-handling team examined the damage, passengers were brought to the arrival lounge by a bus from the spot where the plane stood, blocking the taxiway.

The taxiway remained blocked till the filing of this report.

A team of engineer is examining the aircraft and it will be towed away to the parking bay. The airlines was getting a new set of tyres for the plane.